Flexible coupling



June 8,1926. 1

E. G. KIMMICH FLEXIBLE COUPLING F e ep 5, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 uni-mu 1\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\' Unventor June 8 192'6. 1,588,031

E. G. KIMMICH FLEXIBLE COUPLING Filed Sept. 5, 1922' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 inventor I AHenvley tion of this Patented June 8, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELHER G. KIIMICH, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR .TO THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER OOMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A COBPORATION.OF OHIO.

FLEXIBLE COUPLING.

Application filed September 5, 1922. Serial Nb. 586,280.

My invention relates to flexible couplings interposed cushion of rubber, or other cushand it is particularly directed to a disc that is adapted to be interposed between the driving and driven members of a flexible coup- 6 ling. c

The general types of discs that have heretofore been proposed for this service have usually embodied a plurality of layers of fabric built up in the form of adisc with 10 suitably positioned holes for engaging the driving and driven members of the couplin 'l lhe flexible discs herein considered are applicable to any one of a large class of couplings of conventional design that are interposed between the units of motor generator sets in automobile power transmission systems and in other similar apparatus. Because of the conventional character of '20 couplings of this general class, it has been deemed suflicient to illustrate only the disc without the cooperating driving and driven members of the flexible coupling.

In service it has been found that discs of this general type wear completely through the compression portion of the disc while the material in the tensibn zone of the disc remains in perfect condition. A closer study of the reasons for the early destrucare forced to move one against the other to a far greater extent in the compression portion of the disc than in any other portionbecause of the greater degree of flexure in the compression part of the disc. The destructive wear of the disc is therefore from flexure rather-than from the energy that is transmitted through the disc.

One object of my invention is to produce a disc of this general type in which the por-' of the disc between the drive holes. This ortion of the disc develops. the fact that t e successive layers of fabric 1on1ng material is so closely united with the fabric that it absorbs a relatively large degree of movement between adjacent layers of fabric without separation of the plies of the disc and internal friction and heating of the discs is thereby avoided. In discs of the ordinary type the destructive action of these elements assumes very large proportions as previously set forth.

Another object of my invention is to provide a disc of relatively inexpensive construction, and of such a nature that a single unit can be used in lieu of the plurality of units that are required in the ordinary disc, since without this interposed layer of rubher or cushioning material the disc mustnecessarily be of limited thickness for satisfactory operation, whereas when this interposed layer of resilient material is used a disc of much greater thickness,. and therefore of greater strength, can be constructed.

- In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, with parts broken away, of a disc constructed in accordance with my invention and adapted for use with flexible couplings of conventional design;

- Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the fabric elements entering into the construction 'ofthe disc'shown-in Fig. 1;

Fi 3 is a plan view of one of the cushioning e ements that are interposed between ad- ?eeni layers of fabric in the disc shown in Fig. 4 is a sectional edge view of the disc gaik'en1 substantially on lines IV-IV of Fig. 5 is a'view of a modified form of my disc shown partially in section with parts broken away and: partially in elevation; and

I Fig. 6 is. a sectional edge view taken subtantially on lines' VI'--VI of'Fig. 5.

The flexible disc that is illustrated in Figs.

1 to 4, inclusive, of the .drawing embodies a plurality of fabric links 10 that are built up in layers having the oppodte ends of each link overlapping the ends of the addriving holes of the disc and of alternate layers of rubber and fabric in the intermediate portion of the disc. This is particularly emphasized in the sectional view of Fig. 1

which also shows a fabric covering 12 that is placed on each side of the completed disc to. rovide an attractive external surface.

disc. built up in the manner described has a relatively incompressible zone 13 adjacent each of the driving holes and a flexible zone 14- that extends intermediate adjacent driving holes. It has been found in actual service that the interposition ofcushioning strips 11 permits for greater relative holes is relatively incompressible to providemovement of the several layers of fabric and thereby greatly prolongs the effective life of the This construction also renders it posslble to form a single unitary disc of sufficient thicknessand stren -h to displace the three discs that are usua y employed in 'a single driving connection.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a modified form of my lnvention in which complete discs of fabric 20 are assembledalternately with layers of rubber composition 21. The rubber com ositionat each of the driving holes of the iscs is replaced by a fabric washer 22. This Particu ar assembly of fabric and rubber produces a disc in which the zone in the immediate vicinityv of the driving an exceptionally serviceable material for connecting the-disc to the driving and driven members and in which the intermediate portion of the disc embodies zones of relatively great compressibility and of freely flexible material. This disc is also relativel inexpensive to construct, being preferab y formed by superposing alternate layers of fabric and rubber and by ositioning a fabric washer at each driving ole. The molding pressure that is applied to the disc. in the process of vulcanization may be utilized to squeeze the rubber cushion material from between the washers and the fabric, or openings may be cut in the rubber cushion'21 for the washers 22 to form the disc substantially as shown. Fabric facingsheets 23 are applied to each side of the disc to improve its appearance.

It will be noted that the structure surrounding the bolt holes is of substantially one mate-rial. This material maybe either The structure between the bolt holes includes more than one material. In the exam les given, fabric and separable portions of rubber are employed. 1

Although I have illustrated and described only two applications of my invention to the construction of flexible couplings, it will be apparent that it could be applied to a great variety of distinct types of discs without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I therefore desire that only such limitations shall be imposed on my'invention as are set forth in the accompanying claims.

What I claim is:

1. A composite disc for flexible couplings having a plurality of driving holes comprising relatively incompressible zones of a single material surroundinlg each of the driving holes and a flexible zone of more than one material intermediate the aforesaid drivin zones.

2. A laminated disc comprising alternate layers of fabric and rubber composition in the compression zone of the disc and a relatively incompressible composition adjacent the clamped portion of the disc.

3. A unitary disc for flexible couplings comprising a plurality of layers of material, each layer comprising separated flexible, links, and flexible cushioning filler strips extending between said flexible links.

4. A composite disc for flexible couplings embodying relatively incompressible zones of substantially 'one material adjacent the driving holes, and relatively flexible and compressible zones of substantially different materials intermediate said driving holes.

5. A composite disc for flexible couplings comprising su erposed layers of fabric in the vicinity o the driving holes and alternate' layers of fabric and resilient material between successive driving holes.

6. A composite disc for flexible couplings comprising layers of fabric andtresilient material, and. wide ly separated zones in which fabric replaces the resilient material toform "relatively incompressible zones.

7 A composite member for flexible couplings having fabric connecting portions adapted to-be secured to the parts of the coupling and intermediate portlons of fabric and resilient materials of substantially greater flexibility than the material of the connecting portions of the member.

8. A composite disc for flexible couplings comprising alternate layers of relative y compressible and of relatively incompressible materials in the zones between the driving holes.

9. A flexible cou ling comprising superposed layers of fa ric and rubber compo sition inserts in the fabric between bolt holes providing spaced zones of relatively high flexibility. 1

10. A flexible coupling comprising a seerise of rubber inserts and layers of fabric a fibrous material, and compression zones su rposed on theinserts, said inserts procomprising fabric between the flexible I Vl$1 flexible zones alternating with less zones.

flexibe clamp receiving zones. In witness whereof, I have hereunto, I 11. A power transmission coupling memsigned my name.

ber comprising a. flexible structure of circumferentially spaced zones of rubber and ELMER G. KIMMICH. 

